Prostaglandin E2 in human gingiva in health and disease and its stimulation by female sex steroids

The levels of prostaglandin E₂ were measured by means of radioimmunoassay in 12 clinically normal and 24 chronically inflamed human gingival tissue homogenates. The average values were found to be 16 and 285 pmol/gm wet weight of the normal and inflamed samples, respectively. Addition of estradiol-17β alone or a mixture of estradiol-17β and progesterone to incubation media containing normal or inflamed gingiva caused a significant increase in the synthesis of endogenous PGE₂. Increased levels of female sex steroids during pregnancy may enhance gingival inflammation.